New Trends Shaping the Future of Foster Care 2013-2022

Foster care is intended as a temporary, court-monitored service the state provides to ensure the safety, permanence, and well-being of children and youth. Children enter foster care for various reasons, including abuse, neglect, housing instability, or parental challenges such as hospitalization or incarceration. In foster care, they live with government-approved families, either specifically trained foster parents or approved relatives, often referred to as Kinship care. The primary goal is typically reunification with their parents. However, if reunification is not possible, parental rights may be terminated, making the child eligible for adoption.

Understanding trends in foster care is crucial for developing strategies to create more stable and nurturing environments and to reduce the time children spend in the system. From 1998 to 2022, the foster care system experienced significant changes. There was an overall decrease of 34% in the number of children in care, with the average number of children per year dropping from about 559,000 in 1998 to 368,000 by 2022—the lowest figure recorded. However, the impact of COVID-19 on these declining numbers should be considered, particularly the 5.8% decrease in 2022, the second-highest annual decline on record.

Demographic shifts have also been notable. In 1998, non-white children comprised approximately 65% of the foster care population, while white children made up 35%. By 2022, this had shifted, with the non-white population decreasing to 57% and the white population increasing to 43%. This change represents an influx of nearly 28,500 more white children in care in 2022 than expected based on 1998 percentages.

The rate of change in foster care entries further highlights these disparities. For example, from 1999 to 2000, the number of non-white children entering care declined by 5.3%, juxtaposed with a 7.1% increase in white children's entries. These figures underscore the different dynamics experienced by racial groups within the system.

The non-white category has seen significant shifts within its racial subgroups. African American children have consistently represented the largest proportion of non-white children in foster care. In 1998, they comprised 66.1% of non-white children in foster care. Despite a decrease over the years, they remained significantly overrepresented, constituting 57.4% of non-white children in 2022. This ongoing overrepresentation, despite demographic shifts, indicates systemic issues that still need to be addressed.

When examining other racial groups, Hispanic children represented 23.4% of non-white children in foster care in 1998, a figure that increased slightly to 26% by 1999. By 2022, Hispanic children accounted for 37.5% of non-white children in foster care, indicating stable representation. However, there has been a notable increase in the proportion of Hispanic children in foster care overall, growing from 15% to 22%. Similarly, mixed-race children, who accounted for virtually none of the foster care population in 1998, had grown to represent 8% by 2022. 

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Further investigation should be made into why these changes in the racial population may be occurring. Regarding the previous overrepresentation of African American children in the system, has there been an increase in equity within the system? Why are more white children entering? Does this change mean the system is reaching more people who have needed it in the past or less? Is it primarily shifted due to the increase in people identifying as mixed race entering the system?

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The average age of children in care has remained relatively steady at around 7.5 to 8 years old. However, there have been slight fluctuations within the age ranges. The proportion of children aged 0-5 in care has grown from 25% to 35%, while the 6-11 and 12-16 age groups have seen reductions. Younger children, particularly those under five, tend to have shorter stays in care. In contrast, teenagers often spend more extended periods in the system. In 2022, children under five spent an average of 18 months in care, while teenagers aged 13 to 18 spent an average of 30 months. Understanding these disparities is crucial for tailoring our approaches to meet the unique needs of each age group.

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What are some of the reasons/impacts of older kids being in care longer?

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Over the past two decades, the average time children spend in foster care has shown significant variation. In 1998, children typically spent an average of 33 months in care. This period gradually decreased over the years, reaching a low of 19.5 months by 2010. However, since 2018, there has been an increase in the time children spend in care across various groups—those currently in care, those waiting for adoption, and those exiting care. By 2022, the average time spent in care had risen again to around 24 months. COVID-19 may have influenced some of this increase, but it does not fully account for the rise observed two years before the pandemic.

These fluctuations highlight the need for continued efforts to address the factors contributing to prolonged stays in foster care. In 2022, 41% of children were in care for less than a year, and the proportion of children in care for five years or more decreased by 10%. However, despite this decrease, children who spent more than five years in care still represented a concerning 7% of the kids in care. The trends in exits from foster care also reflect the time spent in the system. Those exiting with less than one year in care decreased from 52% to 35%, while those in care for 1-2 years increased from 18% to 29%, and those in care for 2-3 years rose from 9% to 18%. The number of foster youths exiting with five or more years in care was reduced from 10% to 5%.

Over the years, there has been a notable increase in exits due to adoption and guardianship, which are generally more stable and permanent solutions compared to reunification with birth parents. In 1998, only 17% of exits were due to adoption, whereas in 2022, this figure had risen to 25%. This shift indicates progress toward finding permanent homes for children but also underscores the ongoing challenge of reducing time in care.

Reunification with biological parents remains a primary goal but achieving it has become increasingly challenging. The goal of reunification grew from 39% to 52%, peaking in the mid-2010s at around 56%. However, successful reunification now happens only 46% of the time, down from a peak of 60% in 1998. This creates a 6% deficit between the goal and actual discharge achievement, highlighting the need for more realistic and informed case planning.

Challenges in reunification, such as parental substance abuse and mental health struggles, further delay permanency. Concurrently, delays in the adoption process—stemming from legal complexities and the arduous task of identifying suitable adoptive families—contribute to extended waits despite adoption goals climbing to 28%. Addressing these multifaceted challenges necessitates a concerted effort from policymakers, child welfare agencies, and community organizations to streamline processes, bolster support systems, and ultimately align discharge outcomes more closely with initial case goals.

From 1998 to 2022, there was a notable increase in the percentage of children adopted with public agency involvement, rising from 7% to 15%. This reflects the growing role of public child welfare agencies in facilitating adoptions, particularly for children in the foster care system. These agencies manage the child’s case, oversee the adoption process, and ensure that the child’s best interests are prioritized.

In tandem with this, there was also an increase in the percentage of adoptions where an adoption subsidy was awarded, rising from 87% to 94%. Adoption subsidies are financial support provided to adoptive parents, particularly for children considered "special needs" due to factors like age, sibling group status, or medical and behavioral challenges. These subsidies help remove financial barriers to adoption, ensuring that more children, especially those with special needs, can find stable, loving homes. The increase in adoption subsidies awarded reflects a commitment to supporting families who adopt children from the foster care system, helping to cover the costs associated with raising these children and ensuring they receive the care and support they need.

Children in foster care confront a myriad of challenges that can impact their mental health and increase their involvement in the juvenile justice system. Frequent placement changes often lead to feelings of instability, exacerbating emotional and behavioral issues. Many enter the system already bearing the weight of trauma and loss, further compounded by separation from their biological families. This instability can hinder the formation of secure attachments, making it difficult for foster youth to trust others and develop healthy relationships. Additional trauma within the system, educational disruptions due to frequent moves, and the stigma associated with being in foster care can further erode their well-being. Mental health challenges, ranging from anxiety and depression to PTSD, are prevalent and often inadequately addressed, especially given the lack of continuity in care stemming from frequent relocations. Limited access to supportive adult relationships and susceptibility to negative peer influences, especially in group settings, can steer foster youth toward delinquent behaviors.

Addressing these multifaceted challenges necessitates a holistic approach. Strengthening preventative services, such as parenting classes, substance abuse treatment, and mental health support, can reduce the number of children entering foster care. Enhancing support for foster families through regular training, mental health services, respite care, and financial assistance can improve placement stability. Promoting kinship care offers children a familiar and stable environment, often leading to shorter stays in the system. Effective permanency planning, with proactive strategies from social workers exploring all potential options, is crucial. Advocacy for policy changes prioritizing timely permanency, streamlining legal processes, and increasing funding for child welfare services are equally vital.

Furthermore, it is imperative to recognize and address the cultural shifts within the foster care population. Providing culturally competent training for foster parents, targeting recruitment efforts to attract diverse foster parents, and offering tailored support services for families of color can foster a more inclusive and effective system.

The trends from 1998 to 2022 reflect broader changes in the foster care system and highlight the ongoing need for improvement. While progress has been made in some areas, significant work remains to address the systemic issues that continue to impact the lives of children in foster care.  By addressing systemic challenges, enhancing support for families and foster parents, promoting kinship care, and advocating for effective policies, we can reduce the time children spend in foster care and ensure they achieve permanent, stable homes more quickly.

As seen, there has been a shift over the last 25 years in the diversity of kids in foster care. Addressing these changes with culturally competent practices, targeted recruitment of diverse foster parents, and better support services for families of color can make a significant impact. Through concerted efforts and collaboration among policymakers, child welfare agencies, and communities, we can create a more just and inclusive foster care system that better serves all children, ensuring they receive the care and support needed to thrive. By staying informed, advocating for change, and implementing best practices, we can help create a more efficient and compassionate foster care system. These changes matter because they affect the lives and futures of some of the most vulnerable members of our society—children who rely on the foster care system for safety, stability, and the hope of a better future. Together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive in a loving, permanent home.